Costume Drama

In Collin's words:

So, this morning we left for school and all three kids were wearing their ninja outfits. We had only just made it around the corner when Aidan wanted to take his off. You see, none of the other kids that we passed on the street were wearing costumes and they just stared at our kids. So, by the time we get to the alley by the kids' school, Emma and freaking our and strips out of her costume too. But then as we exit the other end of the alley next to the school, they see a bunch of kids from their school who ARE dressed up. So as quickly and panicky as possible, they throw their costumes back on, just as the bell is ringing. When we get to the school yard, ALL the kids are gathered for a song and show that the English teacher has prepared (knock, knock, trick-or-treat, who are you? I'm a monster, I'm a little monster . . . ).

Anyway, all of Aidan's classmates come up to him and are talking about his costume and he is freaking out because NONE of the 5th and 6th graders are wearing costume. He looks traumatized and after I few minutes I told him to go take it off. He does, but the damage was done. He is trying to hold back the tears, although one or two escape, and he looks as if he wants a hole to open up in the ground and swallow him up. I tried to cheer him up by telling him about my Robin Hood/Peter Pan costume fiasco, but I don't think he was in the mood. But the other two kids were happy since all of their classmates were dressed up.

(Tara) Aidan was fine when I picked them up from school He was wearing his costume again. The boys in his class just brought masks and put them on at recess, so I think he recovered from his embarrassment. I remember once when my stepmom made me a Betty Boop costume in 4th grade. It was a black tube dress with a red sequined band at the top. I work a red bow in my hair and black high heels. I looked like a child prostitute and was miserable. My underwear showed and I couldn't play on the bars. I also had a team soccer swim party that day. Everyone else was running around or swimming (without costumes) and I was stuck in my hooker dress unable to join in the fun. 

Rocío

I love chatting with Rocío. She is really young and fun. Listening to her talk about her complicated love life is almost better than watching THE SHOW or reading People. Last night I went over to her house to watch a show (THE SHOW) that we both like. It was really late at night and her parents didn't want me to walk home and they didn't want Rocío to walk me home and then have to walk home alone. They actually invited me to spend the night. I was tempted because one of the things I miss the most about being a teenager is the sleepovers. But I knew Collin would not be cool with it, plus he would have to get the kids all ready in the morning AND walk them to school. So I took a cab home. I should have driven because I probably could have parked on her street since it isn't as crowded as the center of town. When I asked her if her neighborhood was safe, she said, "Are you kidding? My neighborhood is the Beverly Hills of Granada!"

She made us open faced scrambled egg and tomato sandwiches on baguettes, peach yogurt and membrillo. Membrillo is a dessert made from Quince fruit. The best way to describe it would be a cross between preserves and Jell-O Jigglers. I LOVE membrillo. It tastes great alone, but is also fantastic combined with Manchego cheese. (When I eat Manchego and Membrillo together, I feel like Ratatuoille's brother rat when he eats the cheese and grape together and all the sparks and colors are flying around his head to symbolize the yummy flavor combination.) Could I be any more Spanish? Rocío and I ended up eating almost an entire container of membrillo that her mom made. She also sent a new container home with me. Seriously, it's like candy. I helped her come up with a Cleopatra costume for a presentation she has to do with some kids about Egypt. I also let her borrow my gold cuff for her costume.

The show we like is way more fun to watch with a friend who is as obsessed with the show. We spent the whole time gasping at shocking events, laughing at some of the characters and speculating about what we think will happen in the next episode. We were cracking up because one of the characters had an outfit on and her hair done in a way that made her look exactly like a Flintstone, a cross between Betty and Wilma.

She offered to iron my hair for me the next time we hang out. Today we went to a restaurant called Manzanilla in the la giratoria. On our way there we got the most piropos (catcalls) I have ever experienced in such a short amount of time. I think it was a combination of factors. We had to walk through tons of construction to get over to the restaurant, there were two of us in skirts and Rocío is really tall with a cute face and figure. One guy actually said, "La Madre del Cordero!," when we walked by. It literally translates to "the mother of a lamb," but means OMG! She told me of some really gross piropos that guys sometimes yell at her. I'm not going to write them here because they are disgusting! What are those guys thinking? That some girl is going to stop and start flirting with them or more because they catcalled?

It is a all glass circular room that revolves around and offers an amazing view of Granada. If you sit in one spot for an hour you will turn go all the way around. We both had mosto. The tapa was olives, gherkins and onions with chorizo on bread. I ate the olives, gherkins and bread, but left the chorizo alone. So did she and she's Spanish. We also chatted quite a bit about her love life. She also told me that I pronounce the name José incorrectly. She said that in Spain they put the emphasis on the JO, not the SÉ eventhough the accent is on the SÉ. She and Inma said that it is because usually the Josés in Spain usually have a second name added like (José) María. We could actually see the balcony of her apartment from la giratoria and her parents waved to us as they set up for lunch. Tonight she is going dancing and I wish I could go with her. I haven't been dancing in probably 10 years. Tomorrow she is going to a Halloween party dressed an an evil doll.

After our drink in la giratoria, she walked me over to the kids' school which was coincidently the school she attended as a child. On the way there we got more piropos, some guys on a motorcycle actually swerved towards us yelling. When we got to school, we saw Inma, Emma's friends' mom. I had told her that Rocío was a nanny in Ireland because Inma was looking for someone to take care of her kids while she and her husband go out sometimes. They exchanged phone numbers.

Pre-Halloween Prep

Yay! The package from April arrived today filled with costumes, candy and the much awaited Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days. The kids raced home from school to put on their costumes and then played Bote, Bote which is the Spanish version of kick the can with the neighbor kids in the building. There is a 9-year-old girl who called a couple times to see if Emma could play down on the patio. They also ate See's Candy during their lesson with Elena. They LOVE the costumes and fake weapons.

Emma and I went over to Marta and Lucía´s house for a play date. They are renting an apartment near el Parque de las Ciencias. Their apartment is the nicest I've seen here. It was brand new and modern and in what one of my language partners calls "the Beverly Hills of Granada." Their apartment had a nice view of the park. I spent three hours talking with them in Spanish about living in Granada, raising kids, working vs. staying home. Emma and her friends played down in the communal area and also drew a bunch of Halloween pictures. They are going to school dressed in their costumes.

I really enjoyed talking with Inma and her husband (he's a doctor). I felt very at home with them. They are super nice. She brought me a shawl when it cooled off outside and made me some herbal tea. We also talked about living in foreign countries and how it is beneficial. She also said I could use her oven since mine is diabolic. She wanted to learn how to bake some new stuff anyway and I thought it would be fun to do with the girls. Emma finally suggested that we go home since she, "needs more sleep than these Spanish girls."

Honestly, I wish we could stay for longer. I never thought I would feel that way, but Aidan and Emma are thriving here and so am I. I love making new friends and learning about other cultures. I love it here! AND Inma and her husband kept saying how good my Spanish is!

Elena

The kids have the best Spanish teacher. Today she brought them a cake that she had made with her friend who is in cooking school. It had their names and her name on it. It was a white cake with mint filling and dark chocolate ganache. I can tell she really cares about the kids and how they are doing in school. She is always hugging and kissing them and asking them about their day.

Ian and Spanish School

Poor Ian! He really hates school. He never wants to get out of bed in the morning and sometimes when I drop him off at school he starts crying. At school before he goes into class, other parents try to talk to him, but he won't answer them. He doesn't like his teacher. He isn't playing with anyone at recess. 

Some kids from Emma's class were bullying him at recess. They were pushing him around and grabbing him by the collar. Emma said that she started slapping them on the back and screaming at them to leave her little brother alone. Later, when she was telling me about it, she asked me (with eyelashes fluttering) if she did the right thing since it was in self-defense. I told her that it was fine since they were pushing Ian around. I told her that she could "go wildcat" on anyone who was bullying her or Ian. She responded by hissing at me and scratching the air. Emma said that she told the yard duties and they just brushed her off and told her to go and play. She also said that she told Ian's teacher, but she didn't do anything about it. So of course I got upset. I insisted that Collin talk to Ian's teacher and then I talked to Emma's teacher since the boys are in Emma's class. Since then, Ian hasn't had any trouble with people bullying him at recess. 

One of the main problems is that even when other kids or adults talk to Ian and try to get him to participate, he doesn't answer. I don't know if it is because he can't come up with an answer fast enough in Spanish or if he doesn't understand what they are saying or what. Since he doesn't respond to the other kids in class, they eventually leave him alone. He spends almost every recess alone. The yard duties won't let him to gymnastics because they are afraid that he is going to hurt himself. All he wants to do at recess is handstands, cartwheels and something that looks like front walkovers. His aspiration is to be a power tumbler or a free runner. It seems like they just won't let him be himself at school. He gets upset a lot in class and will throw fits when he gets upset. I am currently bribing him with money, Kinder Sorpresas or computer time each day he doesn't throw a fit at school and tries to play with people at recess.

He did get invited to a birthday from a girl in his class. They went to VidBoys and he had a lot of fun. The other children seemed happy to see him and were waving and calling his name. I am starting to think that the language barrier, the new school, new country and new apartment are just too much for him. I am surprised because the kid I worried the most about initially was Aidan since he is so shy, but he's doing great. Ian's teacher and the director of the school both say that Ian just won't assimilate. The director has at least been checking in with me after school occasionally to see how the kids are doing. I feel like he cares about them, but Ian's teacher does not. Today he told me that his religion teacher yells at him every day because he doesn't understand what he is supposed to do in class. The director happened to ask me today how Ian was doing and I told him about the religion teacher. The director told me that none of the kids have to attend religion class and all I have to do is sign a paper to relieve them from class. The other kids really wanted me to sign them out of their religion classes, but since they are doing fine, I don't really want to. Plus, Emma always comes home singing beautiful songs about Catholicism. 

Collin and I kind of want to just take him out of school altogether. I would be fine with homeschooling him and Ian is really good company. But I really want him to learn Spanish and I really want him to make friends. I also don't want to teach him that you can just quit something because it is hard. You can't always do that in life. Everyone says that things will improve with time, but it has been almost two months since the kids started school and he still hates it. He is also a very sensitive child and gets hurt feelings very easily. He gets angry easily when things are not going his way and flies into a rage. I wish I knew what we were doing wrong as parents. I am really torn as to what to do. I want to keep him in school, but I also want him to just stay home with me. 

¿Como se dice "exhibitionists?"

Collin and I went hiking today in Monachil while the kids were in school. It was the first exercise I have had in about a month and a half. The weather was perfect, warm in the sun and not too cold in the shade. It took about 20 minutes to get there and the roads in Monachil were super narrow (only one car at a time in most spots), bumpy (I felt like I was 4-wheelin' again with Brian Powell) and without a lot of sign posts. We drove past a goat farm and parked with some caravans. Collin asked a hippie who was living in her van how to get to los Cahorros and it turned out that we had taken the wrong road. So we got back in the car and drove down what looked like a one horse gravel track. Branches and weeds whipped the sides of the car as we made our way cautiously around the twists and turns. We tried parking at a restaurant at the head of the trail, but a groundskeeper shooed us out past rotting piles of olives with swarms of yellow jackets around them.

Near the trailhead was a hippie commune complete with yurts, a washing area, garden and tons of toys for all the little kids. I think living there would be every little kid's dream. It is situated right in the mountains, you get to live in what is basically a giant tent and you have a bunch of families with kids to play with on the same property.

At first, we tried hiking los Cahorros bajos, which was pretty, but boring and a little too easy. So we went back to the trailhead and hiked up los Cahorros altos which lived up to their name. It was really steep and had a beautiful view. Los Cahorros altos trail was definitely too hard and dangerous for the kids to do, I'm glad Collin and I went by ourselves to scope it out. We crossed over a few rope and plank bridges, definitely not for people with gephyrophobia (fear of bridges) or acrophobia (fear of heights). There is a sign posted with a bunch of warnings about the longest bridge, specifically that no more than 4 people can be on it at a time. There was a building that looked exactly like a ruined jail with graffiti all over it. On the rock face there were metal loops for rock for climbers. The trail was made of cement and was attached to the rock face on the right with a stream lower down on the left. It was awesome and a little challenging. There were places where the rock face curved out over the trail and we had to hold onto metal handles to get around the bumps. There were also places where you had to crawl under the rock face jutting out. We went through a huge cave. There were a few spots in the stream about 4 1/2 feet deep with clear freezing water. There was absolutely no one on the trail. After the commune and the olive groves, we didn't see a soul. Collin asked me if I dared him to go in the water and I said sure. I didn't really think he would do it, but he stripped down to his underwear and waded in to his chest. Then he dared me and since there was no one around, I stripped down to my underwear and got in up to my neck. It felt like bathing in a glass of ice water. I'm sure the stream is melted snow from the Sierra Nevada. We dried off and got dressed and not even five minutes later, some hikers from England came up the trail. As we walked back we ran into tons of people: a couple with a dog, more European hikers, a very large group of school children. I really don't know what I would have done if anyone had seen us 1/2 skinny dipping in the stream. If we had lingered at all, we would have been discovered in (almost) all our glory. Phew!

On the way back to the trailhead Collin dared me to eat an uncured olive off of one of the trees. It tasted like ink from a ballpoint pen, bitterest thing I've ever put in my mouth. I love olives, especially the light green ones, but seriously whoever thought after trying a raw one that they could be made edible by soaking them in brine or whatever they do? If I didn't know better, I would think I was being poisoned--it tasted SO HORRIBLE!

We are going to go back to hike in Monachil on Friday after school. I'm going to pack a picnic so we can spend the afternoon there as a family. The kids are going to love it! I don't know why we don't do more outdoor things. When always end up enjoying ourselves. I don't know if it is the preparation that is so daunting or what. I don't crave the outdoors like some people I know, but I do love the experiences I have when I camp or hike. I know it sounds cliché but I really do feel more alive when I spend time outdoors. The air in Monachil was so fresh and and clean, it is hard to believe that it is only 20 minutes away from the city. Some of the houses are tiny and old, it is really rural in some parts of the pueblo right outside of Granada.

Cheese Bomb

Collin and I just watched one of the saddest movies I have ever seen. I don't usually cry during movies, but I was definitely wiping my eyes throughout Para Que No Me Olvides directed by Patricia Ferreira. Collin's colleague, Fatima, lent us the movie and said it was really good. She should have given us a box of Kleenex and some anti-depressants too. So far, all the Spanish cinema I have seen is very well done, but very depressing. Don't they make comedies in Spain or do they just leave that to the Americans? 

Fatima also gave me some cheese made from raw cow and goat's milk in a jar. It is made in Austurias and is GRAY! I have never seen gray cheese before. Fatima warned Collin to have some windows open when I took the top off because it smells so strong. She called it a bomb. I finally tried it today on some crackers and then on some bread with a tomato. The flavor reminds me of blue cheese, but stronger. As long as I wasn't looking at it, it tasted good, very strong, but very good. But I had to close my eyes to eat it, the grayness kind of got to me. Flavor=good, appearance and odor=not so good. I am a cheese lover and I believe that the stinkier the cheese, the better the flavor. I'll just have to eat it with my eyes closed when no one is around. Aidan smelled it and actually gagged, but then he's not a cheese lover. Ian smelled it  and said, "Hmm . . . maybe I will try that cheese when I'm older." No matter, more zombie toe cheese for me (truly, that is what it looks and smells like). I would love to have the shirt that I saw two German tourists wearing that read, "Make Cheese, Not War."

One of my conversation partners, Flor, came to church with me on Sunday. Collin stayed home with Emma because neither of them were feeling very well. Emma actually had a fever and was shivering at school so they called me to come and pick her up. I drove to church with Flor and introduced her to the missionaries. About 7 years ago, she met the missionaries on the street and wanted to learn more about the church. But since she was living alone, the missionaries couldn't come up to her apartment to teach her. Eventually, the missionaries gave up. I don't remember how it came up, but she found out that I am LDS and mentioned what had happened with the missionaries. She was still interested so she came to church with me. The Bishop had us come into the office and talked a little about the church and the Book of Mormon and then said a prayer. I think Flor was a little surprised, but fine with it. I had to go with the Primary, so I left her with Sister Clegg and she went to the investigator class and Relief Society. Afterwards, I asked her what she thought and she said that she had tons of questions. I think the sister missionaries want to meet with her at my house which is fine with me. Even though I believe in my religion, I don't like to push it on others, especially since I feel like I don't know even close to everything there is to know about it. 

Now, my other language exchange partner wants to go to church with me this Sunday. She is 19 and totally living the life of a young single girl in the city. She actually invited herself to come with me because she had never heard of the LDS religion before. Rocio comes from a Catholic background, but doesn't currently practice. I'm actually kind of scared to bring her to church with me, but she asked so who am I to deny her? I love talking with her, she is really fun and open and outgoing. I feel like we can talk about anything and neither of us have to hold back for fear of offending or shocking the other. She also likes a TV show that I like and invited me over to her house to watch it this Wednesday. She also has a very complicated love life, as good as a movie! 

Emma's twin friends, Marta and Lucia, starting playing soccer with Emma and Aidan today at their after school activity. I chatted with their mother, Inma, a little and found out that she is starting an online English course. I told her that a language exchange would really help her get over her fear of speaking English. Hopefully, we'll be able to chat while the kids are in soccer practice. She is currently reading the first Stieg Larsson book so we'll have that to talk about as well as the girls. Emma can't get enough of Marta and Lucia and I think the feeling is mutual. They are so adorable together. During soccer practice, Emma got hit in the face with the ball and was crying so she asked if she could sit out. When she was feeling better, she started playing with Marta and Lucia instead of practicing soccer. Aidan was tattling on her and said that the coach didn't say she could play. Emma said that she asked him if it was OK for her to sit out and play with her friends. Aidan said, "No, he said, 'como tú quieres." Which means 'as you wish.' Emma said, "No, he said, 'como tú quieras." Which means 'whatever you want.' So they were arguing about indicative versus subjunctive tenses. I am totally struggling with the subjunctive right now and I can see that my kids understand it better than I do. Oh to be young and have a brain that soaks up everything like a sponge!

Rebecca, my Spanish teacher, said I could bake my pies for Thanksgiving in her oven. We spent the entire lesson today translating an apple pie recipe from English to Spanish. It was hard. It took us over an hour. Several people requested it and of course, none of them can speak English. Rebecca and I are more like friends now than teacher and student. She has really helped me with my Spanish and I am so glad that I got a private tutor rather than enrolling in a class. 

Collin and I are going to spend tomorrow morning together. I think we are going to go for a hike after we drop the kids off at school. I think we both need to get out more.

Driving within the Lines

So my driving achievement the other night wasn't a complete triumph. Besides getting lost, I also parked rather crookedly in our parking spot in the garage. I was still within the line, but just barely. I received a very polite note from the neighbor in 2H asking me to please park better in the future like he does every day so that we won't damage each other's cars. I'm glad he just sent me a note instead of ringing our doorbell and yelling. One time in Madrid, our first time a neighbor from downstairs rang our doorbell and yelled at me for a few minutes. All I could understand was that he couldn't sleep in the mornings because Aidan got up around 6 am and made tons of noise running around and playing. If I had been able to speak better Spanish then, I would have probably said something like, "Well, he's two years old. What do you suggest I do with him?" All I could manage at the time was, "Lo siento." 

I was in the middle of a Spanish lesson today when the school called and said that Emma had a fever and was trembling. When I went to pick her up, she was crying because she thought I wouldn't come to get her. It took me 20 minutes to walk to school and pick her up. She was pretty miserable, but as soon as we got home she perked up. She made herself at home on the couch with a blanket, pillow, crackers and juice and watched the Power Puff Girls movie and then took a LONG nap. I am going to have to stay home with her and Ian tomorrow while Collin and Aidan go to Cordoba with the students, Fatima, Goyo and Charro. I really wanted to go, but I don't think it would be wise to bring Emma who gets carsick so easily. But at least we get to sleep in. 

I finally finished my second grammar book. I'm so glad even though I know the next one is going to be even more challenging. The subjunctive is still kicking my tail and I only scored an 88% on the auto evaluation test at the end of the book. But, lucky me, my teacher is coming over for ANOTHER lesson tomorrow. I know I need them, but sometimes I would like a little break from the lessons once in a while.

We had Fatima, Jaime and Paula over for dinner last night. I made panko chicken, salad, oven roasted cauliflower and brownies. We had a nice time chatting. I really like Fatima and Jaime and Paula is just adorable. The kids kept talking about her, even the next day. I love her dimples. Fatima won the scavenger hunt and she got a mixed CD and a box of nice chocolates which Collin warned me not to eat since there were laying there temptingly on his desk before they arrived.

The brownies turned out burned on top and raw in the middle. I think the oven is starting to get annoyed that I blog about its faults so much and it getting revenge every chance it gets instead of just every other time I use it. Hopefully, it will have been replaced by the next time we come. That thing has got to be at least 30-40 years old. Die already! Go towards the light to the kitchen in the sky (actually, for this particular oven, I think it would feel more at home downstairs where it's hot.) 

This family in our barrio is moving back to Venezuela and everyone is very sad about it. They are one of the nicest and most fun families in the barrio. Their son is always really funny and friendly. I always chat with his dad who taught me how to make empanadas that one time. Collin was a Young Men's when they announced that they were moving and everyone stood up and talked about what a good guy he is and how much they are going to miss him. His best friend cried the whole time. I feel really sad that they are moving. But that's life I guess. How many time have I moved in my life? San Francisco to Kaui, Kaui to Alamo, Alamo to Provo, Provo to Cambridge (with a little Spain in between), Cambridge to Orem, Orem to Lewisburg, Lewisburg to Granada and then back to Lewisburg. We also moved across town in Provo once. 

El Fútbol

(In Collin's own words)

Soccer. There are very few things in life that I enjoy more than soccer. I look forward to it every week. It's almost therapeutic. I was very relieved to know that there is a group of people that play pick up games regularly here. I play every Saturday. It's mostly friendly, occasionally tempers flare. They're always surprised that as an American, I play as well as I do because they don't expect much out of Americans (soccer-wise). When they look at me they think I'm American, but when I play they are not sure and always ask me, 'so where are you from again?I'm looking forward to testing out my new moves that I've learned here when I get back to Lewisburg.

I'm in soccer heaven here in Spain because I get to play it and I get to watch it on TV all the time. It is going to be hard going back.

Best Primary Activity Ever!

I drove again yesterday because I had to take the kids to a Primary Activity. First, I took the kids to soccer at their school. It took me 20 minutes to find a parking space and it was totally illegal, but three other cars were parked the same way so I decided to risk it. I let Ian do free-running near the school and Aidan's friend, Iman, from his class was there doing tricks with his top. He and Ian were hanging out teaching each other gymnastics and trompo (top) tricks. When the kids got out of soccer, I drove to the church without any incidents. The kids were obligingly silent for me. When we got to the church, the Bishop gave a short lesson about Samuel and had the kids each memorize one of two words of a scripture. He went around the circle to have the entire scripture said aloud piecemeal by all the kids. Afterwards, he talked about how the church belongs to everybody and we all have to take care of it. The kids then picked up trash around the outside, garage and inside the church. We sang I'm Trying to be like Jesus (in Spanish) for the closing song, had a prayer and then went to Kinepolis. I followed Nubia, but got stuck at a roundabout and when I finally drove into the roundabout, she was nowhere in sight. I went around the roundabout twice and then randomly chose a street. I was annoyed because I had come all that way only to get lost on the way to the part of the evening that they kids were really looking forward to. I pulled over to ask a pedestrian for directions and happened to see someone from church drive by, so I hurried and followed him and saw Nubia up ahead.

The Bishop divided the kids up into two teams and then everyone got their shoes and bowling balls and starting bowling. They put the bumpers up for all the kids. Justo took pictures of each kid posing with their bowling ball. Some kids were throwing their bowling balls. It was Ian's first time bowling and he did awesome. he tied for first place on his team with Cristina. Emma and Aidan did really well and enjoyed themselves as well. I wish everything wasn't so expensive here. It would be really fun to go bowling as a family, but it would cost around $40 to bowl and that isn't counting food or if the kids wanted to play some arcade games. Oh well, we can always bowl in PA. While the kids were bowling, I chatted with the Bishop, Pepi and the Stake Primary President. I was helping the SPP with her English homework and I have to admit that it was kind of hard! And I speak English.

After bowling, the Bishop treated all the kid to a burger and fries at Burger King. Emma didn't eat hers because it had everything on it. Ian ate his and loved it, of course. Aidan grudgingly ate his, but complained about the mayo, pickles, onions, etc., But there were 20 kids and it would have been really hard to let everyone order their meal to their specific tastes so they just had to deal. The kids also played in the play place. I was the only one who made their kids wash hands before they ate, I mean they had touched bowling balls and played in a play place that smelled like feet for goodness sake!

I had a salad and ate with Loli and her daughter Esperanza. I love being able to carry on a conversation fairly easily. I am so glad that I finally have a pretty firm grasp on the Spanish language. I still make tons of mistakes, but usually correct myself right away. I was kind of annoyed today with one of the parents at school insisted on speaking to me in English. I kind of thought he was implying that my Spanish wasn't good enough, but maybe he just wanted to use his English. He spent two months in Scotland. I think it would be fun to be European. They seem to have more opportunities to travel around cheaply and often.

We only had two small incidents yesterday to put a damper on our good time. Emma fell off the play place and cut her big toe open. There was a thick flap of skin the size of a nickel hanging off her toe and tons of blood. She was really upset and I had to carry her to the car when it was time to leave. I followed Justo to the church and then found my way to the freeway. By accident, I went into a tunnel because I was in the wrong lane and was speedily getting us lost at 10 p.m. without a map, a cellphone or GPS. I wanted to get off and turn around and was starting to get stressed out. Aidan started crying because he knew we were lost and it was pitch black outside. He started praying that we would find our way home and Emma and Ian sang some Primary songs. After about 10 minutes I took and exit and just hoped that I would be able to turn around and go back towards Granada. I guess the praying and singing worked because I found my way back to the spot where I accidently went in the tunnel. I got on the right freeway and found my way home without getting lost again. Aidan was very relieved. I know exactly how he felt. I hate being lost on wheels. I don't mind being lost when I'm walking somewhere because I can stop easily and get my bearings. In a car on a freeway, you can't just pull over and turn around wherever you want and it is really stressful to drive in a foreign country anyway.

We got home safe and sound and I have definitely gained some confidence driving over here. Maybe I will get brave enough to drive to Dani or Alcampo to do the grocery shopping. I am really craving maple syrup and you can only get it at the big chains.

Collin played with the students from CLM in an intramurals game. He scored 2 goals out of 8 for his team. When I came home from the church activity, he was watching a Champion's League game. That man just can't get enough of soccer.

White Knuckled with Sweaty Pits

I finally got brave and drove in Granada today! Collin and I loaded up the kids and went to the grocery store. I told them beforehand that they had to be absolutely silent so I could concentrate and they were. Maybe they were afraid that I would crash if they made a sound. Getting out of the tiny parking space and the garage was hard (the car died twice, I guess it's been awhile since I drove a stick). We went out at 8 p.m. which is just about one of the busiest times of day in Granada because people are coming home from work. I drove through at least 4 crazy roundabouts and the cars are so tightly packed together when you are driving that you could probably roll down your window and kiss the guy in the passenger's seat in the car next to you. By the time we got to Carrefour, I wanted to throw up and felt all shaky. I managed to drive home without any incidents and there was way less traffic. I was in the wrong lane coming up to a stoplight and ended up diagonally across both while I waited for the light to change. When we got to the garage, I couldn't back into the space and the car died a few times. Finally, Collin just ended up parking the car for me. Hopefully, I can get it together before Wednesday because I have to drive to a church activity for the kids. 

Collin said that Yamiles and I should have a race: turtle vs. snail. He was implying that I was driving really slow. Yesterday, we followed Yamiles out of Gojar back to the freeway. It was like following a tortoise. She probably doesn't drive much and I don't blame her. If I could avoid it, I wouldn't drive here either. Collin says he wishes that he had the video camera going to document my stress while I was driving for the first time here, but I'm glad he didn't. I think that would have stressed me out even more!

Candles, a yummy treat

All of the kids at church were very restless because we were practicing the Primary Program today. Aidan and Ian were, of course, squirming and shoving each other. Ian's primary teacher came up and said in English, "If you are good, I will give you some CANDLES afterwards." Ian and Aidan looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. She could tell they hadn't understood what she said, so she said it in English again really slowly. Aidan and Ian started laughing and I said, "Inma, I think you mean caramelos (CANDIES), not velas (candles in Spanish). And then all four of us were laughing.

I also had to stay unexpectedly after church for 40 minutes for an emergency meeting about the Primary program. Some of the Stake Primary Presidency stayed to watch us practice and it was a fiasco as usual. I felt like we were being scolded a little about the behavior of the kids. There was a discussion about how South American kids are more reverent and show more respect to their teachers than Spanish kids. I finally said that each child is different and it doesn't matter where the kids come from, they behave or misbehave whenever they feel like it. I even pointed out that I was sitting with my two boys during the practice and I still couldn't get them to behave. How in the world could we get 30+ kids to behave? This Primary is the rowdiest I have ever been in in my life. But I don't think it is the fault of the presidency. I think it is just how this particular group of kids are. My kids don't particularly like going to church, I think it feels like jail to them because they aren't allowed to run around or talk out loud or play with their friends.

Ian was taking a nap in his underwear today in our bed, next to Collin, who was reading. He asked if he could put his feet in Collin's pants to keep them warm. The next thing Collin knew, Ian had wiggled his way into Collin's pants up to his own waist and fallen asleep.

We got invited to the Ferrer's house today and were told to bring food to share. I had almost all the ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies and decided to try and make some since my apple pies turned out great in spite of Hell's oven. I always use the the Tollhouse recipe that can be found on the back of a Nestle chocolate chip bag. The only alterations I make at home are that I use 1/2 butter, 1/2 shortening, double vanilla and leave out the nuts. Here I had to use all butter, powdered vanilla, a chopped up chocolate bar (because they don't sell chocolate chips) and all white sugar because I forgot to go to Al Campo to get brown sugar. They are edible, but are flat and slightly uncooked in the middle as well as crispy at the edges. They don't look or taste or have the same texture as the cookies I make in the States, but as my father-in-law always says, "(They're) better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick." And it's true, they are better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. I should have brought my silpat with me as well as some shortening, my cookie scoop, measuring cups and spoons, oh and while I'm at it . . . my KitchenAid stand mixer. Pennsylvania kitchen, I swear I will never take you for granted or compare you to the Orem kitchen again. The picture of the cookies is supposed to show the "good" cookies on the left and the bad ones on the right, but you will note that they all look the same. Granada oven, you have won the battle, but not the war. I shall prevail.

We received another great package from April containing new church clothes for the boys, books for Collin and I, a Monsters vs. Aliens DVD, and candy for all. The kids got suckers with monster lips. I think they have watched the DVD four times already. Aidan decided he wanted to take some "modeling pictures" in his new clothes. They got lots of compliments at church about how handsome they both looked. My mom also sent us some yummy dried pineapple, dried bananas and panko crumbs from Trader Joe's. We love and greatly appreciate receiving packages, so keep 'em coming!

I let Aidan start his own blog. You can read it here: According to Bob Pie.

I'm stuck in the subjunctive tense of verbs. I am having the hardest time understanding when to use them. I can conjugate them fine, but it is difficult for me to use them in a sentence. I lazed around all weekend reading Stieg Laarssoon's The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo and also The Girl Who Played with Fire. Managed to read one a day.

We took the kids to Kinepolis yesterday. It is sort of a mall, but it only has restaurants, jewelry stores, decorating store and a bowling alley/arcade with a play place. The kids opted for the play place and then Ian got to play a couple of arcade games because he was the only one with any money left. We also had ice cream at Ben and Jerry's. Collin and I shared a cup with a scoop of Caramel Chew Chew and Chunky Monkey. The kids shared two scoops of cookie dough and one scoop of chocolate fudge brownie. Collin calculated the cost in dollars and for 5 tiny scoops of Ben and Jerry's, it cost us $17. That is just plain crazy. In the States, I could buy almost 5 pints of ice cream for the same cost. They are really running quite a racket over here with the Euro.

Our Favorite Asian Restaurant in Granada

Our family loves to eat at Wok: Casa Nuestra, an Aisan restaurant in Granada. One night after coming home from a baptism, we were all starving and I suggested that we eat there. Emma and Aidan were more than a little skeptical. I think Emma even shouted, "NO, I don't want to eat at an Asian restaurant." I think she was remembering the time we tried to make her eat some really greasy pork in Chinatown and she threw up at the table. Good times.

Anyway, this restaurant seriously has something for everyone. There is a cold food buffet with fruit, vegetables, octopus salad, sushi (only two kinds), pickles, olives, jamon serrano, cheese, flan, cake, mussels, oysters, and snails. The hot food bar is a deep fried dream: french fries, fried rolls (sweet and closely resembling scones), BBQed pork, sweet and sour pork, chow mein, fried rice, egg rolls, wontons, calamari, fried chicken, and fried pork. There is also a grill with raw meat, seafood,  and vegetables that you can put on a plate and hand over to a chef to cook for you. You can choose from salmon steaks, some kind of white fish filets, a whole fish, crab legs, squid (with eyes), shrimp, crayfish, clams, barnacle looking shellfish, calamari, chicken, steak, pork chops, chilies, onions, zucchini, and mushrooms. I surely left some stuff out, but seriously it is an Asian Sizzler (Steak, Seafood . . . .Sizzler). When we went with the kids, they mostly wanted stuff from the deep fried buffet. I don't blame them, the fried sweet rolls are YUMMY! Ian also ate a bunch of sushi. Collin, Aidan and I tried octopus. It really does have the texture of a rubber band. 

I dared myself to eat a snail. The way they get them out here it by forming a suction with your lips around the opening of the shells and sucking them out. I tried several times, but my lips (perhaps with a foreboding premonition of the flavor to come) refused to form a suction. I decided to give up. Aidan really wanted me to eat it so he could keep the shell, he tried to pry it out with a fork. Finally, Collin managed to get the snail's body out of the shell with a bamboo skewer. Lucky me. The thing looked like a GIANT grey booger. I did NOT want to eat. I suddenly knew exactly how the kids feel when I want them to eat something that looks gross (like eggplant for instance). I speared it with my fork and kept trying to bring it near my mouth, but there seemed to be some sort of forcefield between my lips and the fork. I set it down on my plate and then Collin casually mentioned that I should eat it to set a good example in front of the kids about not being picky. It's true, I had talked the talk so many times . . . . could I walk the walk? I kept looking at the snail. It was curled up (probably in agony as they steamed it in a pot) and I could see the little feelers poking out a little. It also smelled a little like a dirty washrag. All eyes were on me. I could see the wheels turning in the kids' heads. I knew that if I didn't eat that unappetizing little morsel that the kids would bring it up the next time I wanted them to try something new. I closed my eyes, popped it in my mouth, chewed it twice and swallowed it. Hooray, I did it! It didn't taste exactly bad, but as Emma always says, "I wouldn't eat a whole plate of them."

Collin and I also went there tonight with Ana Maria and Justo Orozco. I have eaten at their house so many times and we hadn't had them over to dinner yet because I'm kind of intimidated by Ana Maria's cooking. Latinos are habitually late, it's part of their culture. I know this and yet I am always frustrated they show up 1/2 an hour late (even when I know that is what is going to happen). Collin and I are always punctual to a fault, even when we know that the other people will most likely be late. (You'd think we would have learned by now.) So we sat at the table wanting to load up at the buffet, but waiting for our friends. Collin decided to fill up one plate for us to share and eat the food and bus the evidence before they showed up. Right as he got to the buffet, they showed up. Embarrassing! If he had waited literally 2 more minutes then he wouldn't have been caught red handed at the buffet, loaded plate in hand. 

Justo went to college in Japan. He told us a funny story about how all the Filipinas in the dorms thought he was Filipino and would call him on the phone and speak to him in Tagalog. He would speak to them in Spanish because he, of course, didn't speak Tagalog being Mexican. The Filipinas, who were always inviting him to parties, thought that he was being a snob since the upper class people in the Philippines speak Spanish as a way of putting themselves above the common folk. To me, Justo doesn't look Filipino at all. He looks like a really tall Latino. In the Philippines he'd be a giant as he is taller than Collin. 

There is a special dog (I think it is a Mexican hairless) in Colima, Mexico where Ana Maria and Justo are from. In Colima, they bury the dead with their dogs and if the dog isn't dead yet, they kill it in order to bury it with the dead. They believe that the dog will serve as the dead person's guide to heaven.

They also told us about an American car they had that wouldn't start. They had to send away for the part and wait for it. During that time, Ana Maria figured out that they could start the car using a screwdriver. Ana Maria called it a "Mexicanada." I think that means making something work through unorthodox and comical means. Kind of like when you have to use pliers to turn on the TV because the knob broke off.

When we were done eating, Ana Maria asked the waiter to take out picture. He kept pressing the button only halfway down to focus, but not all the way to take the picture. We kept trying to tell him to push the button all the way down, but he though we wanted pictures taken from all different angles so he kept moving around the table until he was behind Collin and I so we had our necks twisted around like the little girl in Poltergeist. We were cracking up, obviously there was a bit of a language barrier as the waiter was Asian and Spanish was definitely his second language. 

I love hanging out with Justo and Ana Maria. I hope we keep in touch with them. It would be really fun to visit and have them visit us. I wish Ana Maria's cooking magic would rub off on me. I would like to make lentils that don't taste like dirt.